Forget the Oscars – Steven Spielberg has been awarded his biggest honour yet in the form of a Blue Peter gold badge.

Blue Peter's most prestigious accolade, the gold badge, has been given to Spielberg for inspiring and entertaining audiences for generations and for his talent, inspiration, passion and pioneering work.

Speaking to Blue Peter, Steven said: "I know all about this. That is indeed an honour. It's fantastic. Didn't someone else [the Queen] very high up in this country have one? Wow that's so great.

"Well I'm going to wear it with pride. I've been aware of Blue Peter ever since I started making movies here in 1980. I made Raiders of the Lost Ark here in the UK in 1980. This is my first Blue Peter badge. And I've always secretly privately wanted one. But now I have one. So thank you."

To celebrate the director's most recent release, The BFG, as well as the anniversary of Roald Dahl, the programme has been running The Dream Big competition, which has seen its highest number of entries in recent years.

The competition was won by Betty, aged 12 from Hull. As part of her prize she attended the premiere of The BFG and got to discuss her winning entry 'Toucans', with Spielberg.